on the line of reef.

A very severe storm about the middle of the month worked up a tremendous
sea, which was responsible for piling hundreds of tons of kelp on the
shore, and for several days tangled masses could be seen drifting about
like small floating islands.

On the 20th an event occurred to which we had long looked forward, and
which was now eagerly welcomed. Communication was established with the
Main Base in Adelie Land by wireless! A message was received from Dr.
Mawson confirming the deaths of Ninnis and Mertz, and stating that the
'Aurora' had not picked up the whole party. Sawyer had a short talk with
Jeffryes, the Adelie Land operator, and among other scraps of news told
him we were all well.

Hamilton killed a sea elephant on the 22nd. The animal was a little over
seventeen feet long and thirteen and a half feet in girth just at the
back of the flippers, while the total weight was more than four tons.
It took Hamilton about a day to complete the skinning, and, during the
process, the huge brute had to be twice turned over, but such is the
value of the nautical handy-billy that two men managed it rather easily.
When the skin had been removed, five of us dragged it to the sealers'
blubber-shed, where it was salted, spread out, and left to cure.

We had communication with Adelie Land again on the 26th, and messages
were sent and received by both stations. Dr. Mawson wirelessed to the
effect that the 'Aurora' would, after picking up Wild's party, make an
attempt to return to Adelie Land if conditions were at all favourable.

Finding that provisions were running rather short on the last day of
February, we reduced ourselves to an allowance of one pound of sugar per
week each, which was weighed out every Thursday. Altogether there were
only forty-five pounds remaining. Thenceforth it was the custom for each
to bring his sugar-tin to the table every meal. The arrangement had its
drawbacks, inasmuch as no sugar was available for cooking unless a levy
were made. Thus puddings became rareties, because most of us preferred
to use the sugar in tea or coffee.

March came blustering in, accompanied by a sixty-four-mile gale which
did damage to the extent of blowing down our annexe, tearing the
tarpaulin off the stores at the back and ripping the spouting off
the Shack. A high sea arose and the conformation of the beach on the
north-western side of the isthmus was completely changed. Numbers of sea
elephants' tus